Which Old Fossil Will Win the Day?

A judgement (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/dec/06/law) has been obtained in favour of an elderly ex-Engineer home owner (Peter Boggis) living at the Warrens (on the cliffs near Southwold in East Anglia) against Natural England. Natural England had extended the boundaries of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) to include the cliffs below his home and had suggested that Boggis was not allowed to create 'soft defences' against the erosion by the North Sea (the sea has apparently claimed more than 2 miles of coastline in this locality since 1640) by dumping rocks and soil on the beach and using JCBs to pile it high. The judge (Tony Blair's brother) ruled that Natural England were supposed to use SSSI's to conserve rare plants and animals or geological features whereas they apparently wanted the sea to wash out the fossils in this area. He did, however, rule that they were behaving lawfully in terms of letting the sea take its 'natural' course in areas away from the cliff-based housing. He also gave Natural England leave to appeal.

Care Home Companions

It has been claimed (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3569698/Care-homes-traumatise-the-elderly-by-banning-much-loved-pets.html) that more than 70% of care homes ban elderly residents from taking their pets with them into accommodation. It is maintained that the pets often give a focus to the elderly owner, reducing their blood pressure and leading to a decline in the amount of required medication. For some old folk, moving to the home may mean the companion animal has to be rehoused or even euthanized. The medical benefits to the owner of having a pet are long-established (so long as infections or infestations are ruled out) but one can also see potential problems for the care homes. Some pets might irritate or endanger other residents, they might result in additional cleaning and might even render the home liable for damages. There is also the problem of what happens if the resident pre-deceases their pet! Having said all that, I personally favour at least a percentage of local care homes accommodating animals along with their owners. It's humane to both parties.

Hamming it Up for Ireland

Disturbing news (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7770476.stm) that pork and pork products from Eire and Northern Ireland that have been exported to more than 25 countries have been recalled because they contain dangerously high levels of carcinogenic dioxins. This concentration of banned chemicals appears to have arisen by feeding the pigs with pig meal from a single company. The pig meal (partially derived from 'recycled' human foods -we apparently still waste around 40% of food that we buy) appears to have been contaminated with oils. Although it is claimed that the human health risk is 'low' (unless one feeds on the meat for an extended period), the event is likely to have a devastating impact on the sales of meat from both sections of Ireland. It again shows the dangers inherent in processing animal feed (remember BSE or 'mad cow' disease?) without the most stringent of quality controls.
UPDATE (09/12/2008) Some of the suspect feed appears to have been fed to cows (including one dairy herd) but the beef is apparently said to be safe for human consumption.
UPDATE 2 (11-12/12/2008) The contamination was potentially linked to illegally modified diesel fuel and (following an 'all clear') bacon from the affected farms was returned to the supermarket shelves!

Stanstead Standstill?

Reports today (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/7770513.stm) that an early morning (around 3am) invasion of a restricted area at Stanstead by more than 50 protesters from the 'Plane Stupid' campaign, effectively caused the cessation of flights for some 2 hours. The protesters claim to be mainly concerned about the carbon dioxide release generated by flights but, I suspect, that support for this action was locally swelled by residents opposed to the plan to build a second runway at this airport. The protesters (many, said to be unaware of their final destination because of fears by Plane Stupid that it would be infiltrated) apparently cut their way through the fencing and, once inside the site, chained themselves to fencing that they brought with them. Many people in the UK seem to favour cheap air flights. They may have been soothed by claims that aircraft can use 'green fuels' - not a very convincing argument as such fuels would produce just as much carbon dioxide and would replace other crops including food. They are likely to have been irritated by this event. The message was certainly strongly disseminated by the event and I can see this kind of direct action becoming more common, especially if sections of society become convinced by some of the issues in 'The Final Countdown' (see post of 9th December).

Birder's Bonus 32

At the National Wetlands Centre Wales (Penclacwydd) the weather resulted in many of the ducks (Mallard and European Shelduck) as well as the Moorhens engaging in skating.

Shoot Knut?

It has been reported (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/dec/03/knut-polar-bear-berlin-new-home) that Berlin zoo is looking to transfer their 'star' (former runty) Polar bear, Knut. Although Knut generated enormous media interest and greatly improved the finances of the zoo, his growth has led to the need to find him a larger enclosure. As this is difficult (Polar bears are wide-ranging, non-social animals most of the time in nature), one possibility is that another zoo will take him. The case illustrates some of the issues surrounding attempting to conserve species with these characteristics by captive breeding in zoos. Polar bears may need an icy north pole!
UPDATE The bear is now subject of a 'paternity case', as a zoo in north Germany is claiming that Knut's father was donated by them (entitling their establishment to a pay-off?).

Staring Out the Starlings?

A news item claimed (http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7740000/newsid_7746000/7746056.stm) that the impressive flocks of Starling (Sternus vulgaris) creating aerial ballet with their allelomimetic movements in the skies of Rome were generating too much mess by dropping their blessings from the skies. The response of the authorities was to blast the roosting birds with the amplified sound of a starling in trouble to drive them from the area. This was claimed to be kinder than the Belgian technique of using dynamite on them. That may well be true but disturbance can cause fatalities in feeding birds and it is a bit sad to welcome the visual aspects of the display without the inevitable animal products. Perhaps virtual starlings would be more appreciated?